That decision came after discussions with Transport Canada, the Campobello Whale Rescue Team and Howlett's spouse, Blais said.

For 15 years, Howlett and other members of the Campobello team have been rescuing endangered whales with little compensation from the federal government, which is responsible for the animals under the Species at Risk Act.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has relied upon the Campobello team to do rescues because none of its employees on the east coast are trained in the risky technique of cutting ropes off the entangled whales.

Along with research scientist Philip Hamilton, Howlett was called to join a Department of Fisheries and Oceans crew on the rescue.

The whale was freed, but Howlett died after being struck by its tail.

His death has prompted an investigation by Transport Canada, but its scope and the questions investigators are trying to answer remain a mystery.

Transport Canada has repeatedly declined to offer details on the investigation, which falls under the Canada Labour Code and Canada Shipping Act.

"As this is an active investigation, Transport Canada is not in a position to provide information on the duration, specifics or possible outcome of the investigation," spokesperson Pierre Manoni wrote in an email Friday.

Campobello team not interviewed

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is doing an internal review as a result of Howlett's death. Those findings will be shared with Transport Canada.

Members of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team — David Anthony, Moira Brown and Jerry Conway — are calling for more support from the federal government. (Karissa Donkin/CBC)

But the details of that review aren't clear either.

"As this is an active investigation, DFO is not in a position to comment on the specifics, nor share publicly any information related to the investigation," spokesperson Vance Chow said on Friday.

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc has said his department's internal review could look at whether everything done the day of Howlett's death was "proper."

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"We can't ask staff of our department to be involved in circumstances like that, witness the horrible circumstances that happened to Mr. Howlett and not ask ourselves the obvious question — did we do everything that we properly could and what if anything might have been done differently?"

LeBlanc said he doesn't direct Transport Canada's investigation, which is "done by independent experts according to law."

While the federal government investigates, North Atlantic right whale rescues have been suspended.

As Fisheries and Oceans considers whether to continue the rescues, members of the Campobello team say they haven't been interviewed by investigators.